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Flash is an obvious pick. It helps you in 99% of situations. You can make sick plays, juke your enemies by flashing to the bushes. A must-have spell.

Barrier is amazing choice. It gives you the survivability, helps when getting dived. It's the ultimate counter for most of mid lane assasins such as fizz, talon or zed. The reason I pick it over heal is simple. Heal cures you for barely 75 (+15 per level), meanwhile barrier gives you 115 (+20 per level). Additionally, if you're ignited it'll heal you for half of the amount. Yes indeed, it speeds you up by 30% for 1 second, but that still doesn't recompensate the amount of heal.

Exhaust is an optional pick instead of barrier if you're playing against mostly AD champs, though it helps with ap bursters as well.

Ignite is a spell you should pick 9 on 10 games. It puts on grevious wound and helps you burst enemy. Be careful though as it's extremely weak on first 2-3 levels. 70/90/110 damage is not much and if opponent pops up health potion it'll deal 20-30 less.

I will not dwell here. I prefer 12/18 instead of 18/12 because of damage Thunderlord's Decree provides and Intelligence which increases your Cooldown Reduction cap to 45%. Yep, we're going to reach that spot.

We'll stay in this section for a while. As most players intend to max (Q), I'm one of those who prefer (W) instead. The reason I don't max Q first is the fact the damage lowers dramatically as it moves through units. Here's the example of how much it weakens our damage:

The second reason I prefer maxing (W) over (Q) is the movement speed W gives (slow to the enemies):20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 % for 3(!) seconds. The reason I wrote "!" there is because it lasts for 3 seconds, which is incredibly long. Also the area of (W) is 250, meanwhile (Q)'s is 175. It's 30% more.

And finally the third reason is the damage itself. Here's the comparison:

Still, some of you will say: "Yo, but the CD of Q is shorter as you level it up and the W's CD doesn't get smaller.That's right and this is where our 45% Cooldown Reduction goes in. As W has 9 sec CD; with 45% CDR it goes down to ~5sec (4.95), which gives you an average of 1 W per 2 Qs :D

Tips and tricks:1. You can hide your ball in the wall/map textures/bushes making it invisible for the enemy team, then when the opportunity shows up and opponents are pretty close to the ball simply put ball on them and ult.

2. When you possess the ball, ult and instantly flash in to the opponent. This kind of operation is super fast and will most likely succeed every time (I prefer to practice it with AI).

3. If you have a stealth champion in your team like rengar or shaco, be sure to shield him as he turns invisible and ult when he jumps into the enemy team. Beware though, as if he gets out of your E range, you'll ult yourself.

4. If you have got a blue buff, try to abuse it by pushing lane and immedietaly go for raptors/wolves for additional gold advantage.

Starting Items

Core Items

Pick one of CDR items plus Ionian boots. With those 2 items and runes you'll get 45% CDR. Why not Sorcerer's Shoes? 15 Magic Pene ain't as useful for Orianna, since she's not an early monster or so (plus it costs 300 more :3). Ionian boots give you the necessary 10% CDR and additionally reduces summoner spells cooldown by 10%.
Rush Zhonya's first if you play against assasins like Fizz, Zed.

Full build with morellonomicon.
There are tons of items to pick, so why did I pick rylai?
That's simple it stacks with your W this way: 40% (slow from W) + 40% (slow from rylai). However it doesn't go that way 40+40=80% slow. Nope. Here you've got an example of how it works. If someone has 100 Movement Speed. Then W slows him to 60 and rylai slows next 40% of the 60. Finally the slowed guy will move with the speed of 36.

Final build with Athene's.

Situational Items

Abyssal against early AP assasins.
Archangel if you expect to be bursted (Seraphin), if you lack mana.
Luden's if you're ahead in the game.
Liandry's if they're all healthy fuckers.
ROA if you feel like you need more survivability.
Banshee against mid assasins.

VS

Ahri

Hard

To be honest there's not much you can do, if she's a good one. In this matchup you have to either stay back and farm or push as much as you can, though you'll be ultra susceptible to ganks. If you wish so hard to fight her, make sure to press your R earlier than she does, since once she uses her ultimate ability you'll most likely miss most, if not all, of your abilities.

One thing is sure: stay behind minions and it's better if you'll lose creep and wont get hit by her Q, than get minion and lower your hp by 20-30%.

VS

Anivia

Easy

All you have to do with this matchup is to dodge her Q (stun), and immedietaly keep her out of cs. Try to keep lane medium-pushed in early. In mid game which is when u need QW to kill wizard minions, push it as much as you can and try to roam lanes (preferably bot).

VS

Annie

Easy

Watch her all the time, if she tries to poke you, put your shield on yourself and do QW+AA combo. I don't really prefer pushing as her stun isn't something she has to aim with, so ganking mid lane would be pretty easy for enemy team. Always put ward a little bit further behind the bushes. Annie has overall small abilities range, try to abuse it.

VS

Azir

Medium

This matchup is 60/40 for you. Try to bait his Q and instantly go straight into him doing the QW+AA combo. Don't let him push you to your tower as he'll make your life a pure hell.

VS

Brand

Medium

Going in against Brand was always risky. His stun lasts for 2 seconds, which in fact feels like whole eternity. However, he's susceptible to ganks from behind, when you and your jungler are far enough from each other to make his ult not bounce. This matchup is the one where I'd go for heal instead of barrier or ignite ("lol ignite? on brand? he's all fire doe") since the movement speed is really useful here.

VS

Cassiopeia

Medium

Cassio is dealing mid-high damage to the poisoned champions. Buy boots ASAP, try to dodge her Q and if you get hit by it put your shield on and get away from her. Don't really dive her as her Q speeds her up and ult lasts for 2 seconds plus it's AOE.

VS

Diana

Hard

Well... there's not much to say. Pre 6 harass her with AA as much as you can, if she comes back with negatron cloak, you're simply fucked up. Let her push you but stay cautious for her roaming. First item to go is definitely Abyssal Scepter.

VS

Ekko

Medium

Pre 6 harass him with AA as much as you can, keep lane mid-pushed or push him and go roam. Watch him using his W and stay back for this time. Good ekko will dodge your ult with his ult so keep that in mind.

VS

Syndra

Hard

VS

Talon

Hard

Harass with everything you have pre 6, if he goes on you without his ult punish him for his dumbness. Pick barrier, rush seeker's armguard, then CDR item.

VS

Twisted Fate

Easy

Easy peasy, harass as much as you can with everything you have pre and post 6. Push to avoid him getting fed from roaming.

VS

Veigar

Easy

Harass early, harass mid, stay back from him in late game. Deny taking cs by going for long skirmishes.

VS

Viktor

Medium

If you avoid his E, he's all yours. If you don't you're kinda fucked. Simple.

VS

Vladimir

Easy

Keep lane mid-pushed early game. Once you get whole CDR item, harass as much as you can.

VS

Xerath

Easy

Buy boots ASAP. Go for him once he uses his Q or try to bait his E. As long as you dodge his skills you're fine.

VS

Yasuo

Medium

Go for ignite or exhaust, his wall blocks your Q, also if you want to shield yourself and the ball will go through the wall, you'll get nothing. Stay cautious at levels 1-4.

VS

Zed

Hard

Barrier or exhaust. If you do take exhaust, wait a second after he ults you, this way you'll block his R damage plus some of previous damages. Rush Zhonya as fast as you can, don't let your guard off. In this case staying under tower doesn't really help you that much. Try to call for a gank.

Champion

Difficulty

Notes

Ahri

To be honest there's not much you can do, if she's a good one. In this matchup you have to either stay back and farm or push as much as you can, though you'll be ultra susceptible to ganks. If you wish so hard to fight her, make sure to press your R earlier than she does, since once she uses her ultimate ability you'll most likely miss most, if not all, of your abilities.

One thing is sure: stay behind minions and it's better if you'll lose creep and wont get hit by her Q, than get minion and lower your hp by 20-30%.

Anivia

All you have to do with this matchup is to dodge her Q (stun), and immedietaly keep her out of cs. Try to keep lane medium-pushed in early. In mid game which is when u need QW to kill wizard minions, push it as much as you can and try to roam lanes (preferably bot).

Annie

Watch her all the time, if she tries to poke you, put your shield on yourself and do QW+AA combo. I don't really prefer pushing as her stun isn't something she has to aim with, so ganking mid lane would be pretty easy for enemy team. Always put ward a little bit further behind the bushes. Annie has overall small abilities range, try to abuse it.

Azir

This matchup is 60/40 for you. Try to bait his Q and instantly go straight into him doing the QW+AA combo. Don't let him push you to your tower as he'll make your life a pure hell.

Brand

Going in against Brand was always risky. His stun lasts for 2 seconds, which in fact feels like whole eternity. However, he's susceptible to ganks from behind, when you and your jungler are far enough from each other to make his ult not bounce. This matchup is the one where I'd go for heal instead of barrier or ignite ("lol ignite? on brand? he's all fire doe") since the movement speed is really useful here.

Cassiopeia

Cassio is dealing mid-high damage to the poisoned champions. Buy boots ASAP, try to dodge her Q and if you get hit by it put your shield on and get away from her. Don't really dive her as her Q speeds her up and ult lasts for 2 seconds plus it's AOE.

Diana

Well... there's not much to say. Pre 6 harass her with AA as much as you can, if she comes back with negatron cloak, you're simply fucked up. Let her push you but stay cautious for her roaming. First item to go is definitely Abyssal Scepter.

Ekko

Pre 6 harass him with AA as much as you can, keep lane mid-pushed or push him and go roam. Watch him using his W and stay back for this time. Good ekko will dodge your ult with his ult so keep that in mind.

Harass with everything you have pre 6, if he goes on you without his ult punish him for his dumbness. Pick barrier, rush seeker's armguard, then CDR item.

Twisted Fate

Easy peasy, harass as much as you can with everything you have pre and post 6. Push to avoid him getting fed from roaming.

Veigar

Harass early, harass mid, stay back from him in late game. Deny taking cs by going for long skirmishes.

Viktor

If you avoid his E, he's all yours. If you don't you're kinda fucked. Simple.

Vladimir

Keep lane mid-pushed early game. Once you get whole CDR item, harass as much as you can.

Xerath

Buy boots ASAP. Go for him once he uses his Q or try to bait his E. As long as you dodge his skills you're fine.

Yasuo

Go for ignite or exhaust, his wall blocks your Q, also if you want to shield yourself and the ball will go through the wall, you'll get nothing. Stay cautious at levels 1-4.

Zed

Barrier or exhaust. If you do take exhaust, wait a second after he ults you, this way you'll block his R damage plus some of previous damages. Rush Zhonya as fast as you can, don't let your guard off. In this case staying under tower doesn't really help you that much. Try to call for a gank.